Portugal started their World Cup 2026 campaign with a frustrating start with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston. They couldn’t get the win, despite being one of the pre-tournament favorite.
João Neves gave Portugal an early lead in just the sixth minute, and it looked like they were on their way to an easy victory. But DR Congo kept pushing and equalized just before halftime. Yoane Wissa scored the equalizer, his country’s first-ever World Cup goal, by heading in from a corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo, playing in his sixth World Cup, had a quiet game. He couldn’t find the net and missed one of Portugal’s biggest chances. He looked frustrated throughout the match.
After the game, Ronaldo told reporters: “We didn’t miss anything today. This is football. We could have won, we could have lost. It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Heads up and focus on the next game.”
Despite having a squad full of talented players, Portugal couldn’t break down a determined DR Congo side. Their opponents deserve credit for fighting back and earning a point.
Portugal will play their next Group K match against Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday. They’ll finish the group stage against Colombia in Miami on June 27.
Ronaldo will be eager to bounce back after a frustrating outing. Portugal still have a chance to finish top of their group, but they’ll need to improve quickly.
Thierry Henry Criticizes Cristiano Ronaldo After Portugal’s Frustrating World Cup Draw Against DR Congo
Cristiano Ronaldo has come under fire after Portugal’s disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their World Cup opener. Former France striker Thierry Henry had some blunt things to say about Ronaldo’s performance, arguing that his movement actually hurt the team rather than helped it.
Henry, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, pointed to one moment in the second half where Ronaldo got in the way of midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes was moving toward the ball near the box, but Ronaldo’s run blocked the path.
“The team needs to score, not you need to score,” Henry said on Fox Sports. “Because he wants to score, he goes into the path of Bruno Fernandes.”
Henry explained what should have happened instead. “If you make that run here, you make the defender take a decision to crash the six-yard box. But because he wants to score, he goes into the path of Bruno Fernandes. If he goes into that six-yard box, you’ve been in that situation. You would have had to follow him, and then it would have been a tap-in for Bruno Fernandes.”
He added that by getting in the way, Ronaldo made it easier for the defense to handle. “You see both players, and it’s easier for you to defend. You saw the reaction of Bruno Fernandes behind, going like, let it roll, make a run, create space, so I can tap it in. It didn’t happen.”
Ronaldo, playing in his sixth World Cup, had a quiet game. He managed just three shots, created zero chances, and made only two progressive carries. He didn’t contest a single ground duel and contributed almost nothing defensively.
Portugal’s opening match had started well. João Neves scored an early header in the sixth minute to give them the lead. But DR Congo fought back, and Yoane Wissa scored the equalizer just before halftime.
The draw was a disappointing start for Portugal, especially after stars like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi had all delivered multiple goals and big wins earlier in the tournament. Ronaldo, with 143 international goals to his name came up empty.
Portugal will try to bounce back in their next match against Uzbekistan. Ronaldo will be looking to find the net and help his team get back on track.
FAQs
Q. What was the result of Portugal vs DR Congo?
A. Portugal and DR Congo played to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group K match.
Q. Why was Yoane Wissa’s goal historic?
A. Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal.
Q. What did Cristiano Ronaldo say after the draw?
A. Ronaldo said Portugal did not get the start they wanted but remained confident.
Q. Why did Thierry Henry criticize Cristiano Ronaldo?
A. Henry felt Ronaldo should have created space for his teammate instead of chasing the scoring opportunity himself.
Q. Who does Portugal play next at the World Cup?
A. Portugal’s next Group K match is against Uzbekistan in Houston. They will then face Colombia in their final group-stage game.
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